National Football League quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, celebrated the United States Independence Day, July 4th, tracing his ancestral roots to Ghana.

While many Americans were attending celebrations with endless food and music, the American football athlete visited the Municipal Hospital in Keita, a village in Atito, President Kwame Nkrumah’s Memorial, and toured Cape Coast Castle.

Kaepernick shared his experience on social media to present the documented journey he and his partner, Nessa Diab, embarked on. He was pleased with the love he received.

 

"What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence?" - Frederick Douglass. In a quest to find my personal independence, I had to find out where my ancestors came from. I set out tracing my African ancestral roots, and it lead me to Ghana. Upon finding out this information, I wanted to visit the sites responsible for myself (and many other Black folks in the African Diaspora) for being forced into the hells of the middle passage. I wanted to see a fraction of what they saw before reaching the point of no return. I spent time with the/my Ghanaian people, from visiting the local hospital in Keta and the village of Atito, to eating banku in the homes of local friends, and paying my respects to Kwame Nkrumah's Memorial Park. I felt their love, and truly I hope that they felt mine in return.

A post shared by colin kaepernick (@kaepernick7) on Jul 4, 2017 at 11:10am PDT

American born Kaepernick quoted Black social reformer, Frederick Douglass, as he pondered the meaning, or lack thereof, of independence as a Black man in America.

“What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence?"

The NFL football star was born to a White mother and Black father, yet, he never met his father but has been determined to learn more about his paternal history. The adopted Kaepernick was raised by two White parents in Wisconsin.

Colin Kaepernick spent the 2016 NFL football season on the bench and in controversy. The San Francisco 49er quarterback was once a Super Bowl champion in 2013 but his political view on violence towards African Americans inspired him to sit during many National Anthems before games, turning fans into foes.

He was released from the 49ers after a decline in performance while the team finished the season with a 2-14 record.

Kaepernick has yet to sign with another NFL team and remains a free agent. Preseason games begin August 9.